Karabakh Agreement Signed

This just in!

At Sunday's talks hosted at Meiendorf Castle, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed "to speed up further moves in the negotiating process" over Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a statement.

The two country's foreign ministers would work with Russia, the US and France, co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which is seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict, he added.

Sounds like a waste of time to me, unless one side gives up. We all know it won't be Azerbaijan and we all know that Serzh has indicated that he would trade or willingly give up some lands altogether.

Probably a non-event, but we'll see.

Source: BBC News

Azerbaijan Boosts Military Budget...Again

Frankly, reporting on Aliyev's threats and his ever-skyrocketing defense budget is tiresome.

He [Aliyev] told a government meeting that the military budget will grow by $300 million to $1.3 billion in 2008.

"The insincere behaviour of Armenian occupation forces, dragging out the negotiation process, forces us to devote greater attention to military issues," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijan must be ready to liberate its lands by any means."

Good ol' Ali hasn't lost his sense of humor, even if he may have lost 20% of "his" country.

Source: Reuters

Azerbaijan Wants the 2016 Olympics!

Lots of fun stories are coming out of Azerbaijan lately. Armenia Blog brings you the latest!

Azerbaijan wants to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, President Ilham Aliev said Monday.

The nation receives revenue from abundant oil and gas resources from the Caspian Sea, but is locked in a dispute with neighboring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous area controlled by Armenian forces since the end of a six-year war in 1994.

This is as likely to happen as the Gaza Games of 2012.

Source: Sporting News

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia Sign Railroad Agreement - Without Armenia

The United States tried to stop it, but apparently it has already begun. What has begun, you ask?

The first step for the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway line project named "Iron Silk Road" has been taken. The Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the state president of Georgia Saakaşvili signed the historical agreement of the rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku which drives out Armenia. The project is anticipated to be finished in two years and around $420 million will be spent.

Armenia has been trying to prevent the the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the state president of Georgia Saakaşvili signed the historical agreement of the rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku which drives out Armenia rail way line of Kars-Tbilisi-Baku for the reason that the railway line in the country will be disposed. But the project aged 14 years which will provide railway connection from Europe to the Middle Asia is driving out Armenia.

Wow, that was a poorly worded article.

Regardless, it seems Armenia may be out for good. Armenia repetedly attempted to develop relations with Turkey - without precondition, by the way - to get a chance at reopening the Kars-Gyumri section of the railroad, as it was economically very important for Armenia. But seeing as how we would be giving up much more and gaining much less in return, in terms of the recognition of the genocide and other conditions for Turkey, I'm happy with this outcome.

Source: Sabah

Armenia & Azerbaijan Close to Peace Deal

Call me a pessimist, but I don't believe that.

"They don’t agree 100 percent on the basic principles [of a peaceful settlement,] but they are close, very close," said Matthew Bryza, a deputy assistant secretary of state and the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. "They agree on the philosophy of the basic principles and most of the basic principles themselves."

Presidents Ilham Aliev and Robert Kocharian were already widely expected to reach a framework agreement on Karabakh early last year. But two rounds of face-to-face negotiations between them collapsed due to last-minute disagreements.

Words are words: I won't be convinced until there is a deal that makes sense. And for that, we may have to wait - possibly indefinitely.

By the way, is Kocharyan showing the middle finger to Aliyev behind his back? Look at the picture again.

Source: ArmeniaLiberty